Essaouira 26 Apr 22

We took a one day trip to the Seaside fishing village of Essaouira. It was a 3 Hour drive to the city on the Atlantic Ocean, west of Marrakesh so we started out pretty early. 

YES!  Goats climb the argon tree to eat the argon nuts

Stopped at the Argon Oil Factory & bought tons of Argon oil to both eat and use on hair/skin!  Grandma used to have this old fashioned stone grinder. I have it in my basement, antique!

Arrived & met our tour guide.  Beautiful hot, windy city with blue blue boats/buildings, everything

So windy, the birds hover over the fish cleaners

SO PISSED OFF.  The main attraction- The Fortress was closed - filming The Wheel of Time.  David was so excited as he watches this show.  Reminded me of my childhood when they'd close Chinatown/Little Italy streets for a movie--respect the locals (+ one day tourists to Essaouira) 

See the actors?

See the fortress we were supposed to be in upper right?

Town square, Essaouira means well laid out city

Tour guide took us atop a fancy hotel to see the beautiful view-guess he didn't know what to do with us since the fortress was closed

Gorgeous rooftop bars everywhere-we have to go back!

Essaouira is famous for silver and woodworking handicrafts.  This woodworking is becoming a lost art, beautiful alabaster, other stones cut and inlaid into wood.  I almost bought a beautiful tray (regret not but bought 3 pairs of shoes & 4 pairs of slippers & an authentic expensive Berber carpet the day before.  Hubby bought a nice box.

Enjoyed walking through the market, chickens, greenery, men in the traditional jalaba outfit

Don't need a bullet if you have a stone grinder

Unique architecture for Morocco's climate.  The tilted entry way to this mosque pulls in cool air in the summer & hot air in the winter

Chick peas/garbanzo beans

Fresh seafood restaurant right on the beach.  We choose the fish on top -huge seabream

grilled & butterflied

kite surfers on the beach

A real beach, not the dinky ones in Switzerland

Outside the gates of Essaouira.  Ma salama (goodbye)

Guess what music our driver Youssef had on his playlist?